Motorists will have a much more visible choice as to whether they want to support a new Kiwi company when they fill up over the summer holidays as the Z Energy rollout spreads quickly across the country.

More than 40 formerly Shell retail service station sites have already been rebranded as Z, with the remaining 170 sites across the country due for completion by the middle of 2012.

Z Energy’s General Manager of Retail, Mark Forsyth, said the choice of supporting a Kiwi company would be clearer this summer, with the Z brand being much more visible for travellers.

“Customers choosing to support Z will experience the brand through our guaranteed forecourt service between 10 and 5pm every day, the opportunity to help choose which community projects receive more than $1 million in support over the next year and a much-improved high quality coffee and food offer, not to mention our famous pies and cupcakes in many of the new Z sites,” he said.

Mark said as the rollout spread across the country, Z was continuing to actively seek customer feedback.

“We’re delighted with the feedback we’re getting from our customers. It’s clear that this industry had become complacent and needed a good shake up. The feedback from our customers makes us all the more committed to listening and continuing to earn their support and loyalty.

“We’d love our customers to tell us what they think of their Z experience this Christmas holiday, either through www.z.co.nz, www.facebook.com/zenergynz or through our interactive ‘A to Z’ screens which are progressively being rolled out as sites receive the new shop offer.

“Z is at the start of a long journey and listening to what our customers tell us is at the heart of us continuing to improve.”

Mark said around 3,500 would be employed nationwide over the rebrand and refit programme and he thanked all of the local contractors for their hard work and professionalism in safely running the Z rollout programme.

Z customers will also continue to receive double Fly Buys until the end of the year at both Shell and Z-branded sites.

Z Energy today said trading conditions were tough with low economic growth and high pump prices resulting in declining industry fuel volumes over the six months to 30 September 2011.

Despite a noticeable increase in competitor responses to Z’s brand activity, Z continued to grow its market share in petrol and diesel sales and received positive feedback from its customers about the changes in brand and customer offers.

Z Energy will soon be one of New Zealand's most visible brands, with the company committing $60 million to rolling out the new local brand across the country over the next nine months.

Starting today, the Shell brand will be progressively replaced with Z across all of the company's 210 retail service stations, 90 commercial truckstops and all company offices and operations.

Z Chief Executive Mike Bennetts said the decision to commit to the Z brand had been taken after exhaustive consumer research, careful consideration of customer feedback from the 10 site Z pilot programme and very strong results from brand tracking research.

“We will commit $60 million to continue to build a strong Kiwi brand and deliver a much better customer offer based on the feedback that New Zealanders have given us.

“Our customers have told us they want a contemporary local identity that reflects who we are as New Zealanders and what we value. Our consumer research has reflected a growing sense of national confidence which we call "New Kiwi" and upon which the Z brand is built.

“Despite the brand being just 16 weeks old and able to be experienced at just 10 pilot sites, recent brand tracking results show that one in two New Zealanders recognise the Z brand unprompted.

“Combined with the feedback from customers and the public, we now have the confidence to invest in continuing to build a world class Kiwi company and a very strong local brand,” he said.

“In selecting a brand that reflects that we are a Kiwi company, we are now making it obvious to the vast majority of New Zealand motorists that they can now choose to support a kiwi company when they're filling up.”

Mike thanked New Zealanders for the feedback that many people have provided and acknowledged the feedback that a new brand in itself would not be enough.

“We've been told loud and clear that Kiwis will give us a chance and back us, but they expect much more from us than they do from our international competitors. They want a new standard of service, they want better food and coffee, they want us to be straight up and transparent and they want us to listen.

“We've listened hard and what we are committing to today is a direct result of what people have taken the time to tell us they want. All Z sites will offer a guaranteed forecourt concierge for people that want it between 10am and 5pm, and around 100 sites will also have the Z espresso coffee and food offer, as well as upgraded bathrooms.”

Every Z site will contribute $5,000 to local organisations and charities in their area depending on how many customers vote for them.

“Over the course of the Z rollout we will contribute $1.2 million into local neighbourhood organisations that help New Zealanders who need it. Additionally, 3,500 locals will be employed in regions across the country over the course of the rebranding and refurbishment.”

Mike thanked people who had provided feedback for shaping Z's brand and offer.

“Our commitment to New Zealand is that we will continue to actively listen to what people tell us they want and will look to progressively improve what we're doing. Where we get it wrong and don't meet people's expectations we'll say sorry and fix it.

“People have told us they want much more in a service station experience than what they have come to expect. We reckon that New Zealanders deserve better and today represents the beginning of our commitment to delivering it across the country.”

Mike said the rollout of the Z brand and the new food and espresso coffee offer would be introduced to the 100 leading sites across the country and the Z brand to every site on a region by region basis over the coming nine months.

He said while the commitment to the rebrand and new customer offer represented significant investment, it would over time be more cost effective than continuing to lease the Shell brand.

A calendar is available at z.co.nz stating when Z is coming to each region.

Z Energy today commissioned 30 million litres of bulk fuel storage tanks at the Port of Lyttelton, and committed to at least $10 million of additional investment in the South Island’s fuel storage infrastructure over the coming two years.

Z Energy is the New Zealand company which owns and operates the Shell-branded retail fuel business. Z is owned by Infratil and the New Zealand Superannuation Fund.

The three 10 million litre tanks were formally opened by the Christchurch Earthquake Recovery Minister, the Honourable Gerry Brownlee and the Chair of the Z Board Marko Bogoievski at a ceremony at the Port of Lyttelton today.

Z Chief Executive Mike Bennetts said the commissioning of the tanks had been delayed twice by the Christchurch earthquakes and it was pleasing to formally open the facility.

“I want to thank all of the many people who have been involved in developing this important project, unfortunately under some difficult circumstances.

“These tanks will make an important contribution to ensuring a reliable fuel supply to Christchurch and surrounding areas and it feels good to be completing an investment which will play a role in helping get Christchurch back on its feet,” he said.

The tanks hold 30 million litres of jet fuel, diesel and petrol and have cost $25 million to construct. All of the 30 million litre capacity – enough to boost Canterbury’s stock cover by a week - is now fully operational.

Mike said the country’s bulk fuel storage had been rationalised and reduced over the previous decade and there was now a need for sustained investment in the country’s fuel infrastructure.

“As a company owned by New Zealanders and committed to New Zealand, Z will take a lead in investing in the country’s energy infrastructure. Today I am pleased to announce Z’s plans to spend at least $10 million in additional fuel storage in the South Island.”

Mike said that detail around the exact location for additional fuel storage was currently being worked through and further announcements confirming the size and location of new tankage would follow over the coming months.

Today, the Thrive New Zealand conference kicked off in Auckland. Hosted by the Prime Minister, the conference features some of the country’s leading business figures, innovators, administrators and sports leaders.

The conference is about celebrating New Zealand business success and innovation and Z is one of the main company’s represented. Mike is one of the 17 speakers, and delivered this presentation at 11.20 this morning in front of 2,000 attendees. Here is a list of some of the speakers http://www.thriveinternational.co.nz/speakers.asp

Mike’s presentation is all about the Z Journey – the Z Why, our values, what we stand for and what we have learned about business in New Zealand in Z’s short journey. This is an opportunity to demonstrate thought leadership and tell the unique Z story to the New Zealand business community.

Z Energy has appointed Rob Wiles to the position of General Manager, Corporate.

Rob has had a strong international career specialising in corporate finance, infrastructure, treasury management, mergers and acquisitions, strategy and business development. He also has experience in the development of start-up businesses.

Rob has recently returned to New Zealand and comes to Z after completing a fixed term contract as Corporate Treasurer with listed company, Contact Energy. Prior to this role he was General Manager, Strategy, at nabCapital based in Melbourne. Rob has held senior positions with NAB, Bank of New Zealand, Southpac Merchant Finance and National Bank of New Zealand.

Z CEO Mike Bennetts said he was pleased to welcome Rob to the Z team.

“Rob has the skills, commercial rigour and senior executive experience to make an important contribution to a company which is focused on customers and growth,” he said.

“His background in corporate finance, strategy development and the development of new business opportunities in particular give the Z Energy Executive team additional depth as we look to future development opportunities which may arise both within and outside of our current core business.”

Rob holds degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Canterbury, and Finance and Management from the University of London, as well as a postgraduate diploma in Banking from Massey University.Mike Bennetts said Rob would start with Z on 17 October.

The country’s largest tennis centre in Christchurch will be known as the Z Energy Wilding Park Tennis Centre following a $1 million donation from Z Energy shareholder, Infratil, to help pay for the reconstruction of the complex.

The Wilding Park Tennis Complex has 39 tennis courts and is internationally renowned for the many high profile matches it has hosted over the years. The complex was badly damaged in the February quake and has been out of action since. It typically employs about 30 people.

Canterbury Tennis is the regional body for the sport with 109 member clubs.

Z Energy Chief Executive Mike Bennetts said Z was delighted to be publicly associated with the rebuild of the most significant tennis centre in the country, which supports and promotes tennis for school age children through to professional levels.

“Infratil has made $1 million available to help get this centre back on its feet through the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal, which was launched by the Prime Minister and led by Mark Weldon from the NZX. The Christchurch Earthquake Appeal Trust has been established to make funding decisions.

“We have staff and significant operations in the Christchurch area and we are committed to continuing to invest in and support the city and its people. Z is really pleased to be a part of continuing to get Christchurch back up and running through helping one of the best most innovative sporting organisations in the country get back on its feet.”

Chief Executive of Canterbury Tennis, David Blackwell, said he was humbled by Infratil’s generous support for tennis in Canterbury and excited about the association between Z Energy as an emerging Kiwi company and the Wilding Park Tennis Complex.

“The $1 million of funding from Infratil will go a long way and we will also continue to work alongside the Christchurch Earthquake Recovery Appeal in relation to their commitment to some additional funding. Current professional engineering reports will determine the exact configuration and location of the new facility.

“Once up and running again, we expect to have tens of thousands of school kids taking part in tennis development programmes every year, so this support will make a real difference for many Kiwi kids and families,” he said.

“The Z Energy Wilding Park Tennis Complex will serve as a symbol of the partnership between two leading Kiwi companies, the Government and the people of Christchurch towards something that really matters to Christchurch and to New Zealand.”

David said construction was likely to begin in the next five to six months with the facilities progressively reopened over the coming year.